Sep 5, 2016

Cover Reveal of Envy by Amarie Avant

Raven Shaw once loved a boy so deeply and so fiercely that their separation sent her already tenuous hold on peace spiraling. A rough life topped by heartbreak is hardly the best way to begin motherhood, but with a babe on the way and Liam out of the picture, Raven is determined to be the best mother she could.
Liam Lemaître has a powerful family, and yet Raven once was his everything, and the only love he’d ever known. Deception drew them away from each other. Liam has realized that of all the material possessions he has—and he has lots—his assets honestly don’t add up to shit without Raven. Then suddenly, Raven stands before him, spitting fire and venom. And she has kept their child.
Two dynamic souls were kept apart by family and schemes far beyond their control. Can they somehow see past the lies and find themselves again? Will the truth set them free, or destroy their love forever?

Raven could almost feel the secretary spit the words as she grasped the double doors with both hands and opened them. Remember to breathe.

Yards away, Liam stood at a full window, back to her, talking on the phone. When he turned around, she stopped. He was taller than she remembered. Intimidating.

The business magazine hadn’t done him justice. She’d stared at it for hours, hoping to find a flaw. Now, as she stood just inside the doorway, she didn’t know what to do or say. She watched him round the corner of his desk. The bridge of his nose complemented a face of perfect symmetry. Gold skin due to Creole linage he’d inherited from his father’s side. Biceps bulged under his shirtsleeves—powerful, like he could pick her up and toss her out. Hell, out of the universe!

And then he glanced her way.

Fuck, I looked into his eyes. Liam’s amber gaze held Raven captive. How long have I been standing here? Their eyes magnetized; his leaving her speechless and lost. Stop, Raven. Take a breath and stop looking into his eyes! Damn you.

Two suited men stood at either side of her, tugging her arms. The connection she had with Liam snapped as she was tugged away.

“Get your hands off me!”

“Raven?” Head cocked to the side, Liam stepped closer.

“You don’t remember me?” Raven asked. The men stopped; all three looked at Liam, brows raised. She wondered if she was just that forgetful.

“Let her go,” Liam said, coming to his senses.

“Mr. Lemaître, allow me to just pat her down,” one of the guards said.

“Just let her go. Despite her size, she’ll hurt both of you if you don’t,”

His demeanor was serious, commanding even as he rounded the desk to his chair. “Lil’ Raven, always so feisty.”

She watched the guards close the door behind them. Turning back to Liam, she disregarded his request for her to sit, needing the height factor to make five foot two feel … bold. Jutting her chin, her commanding tone made her feel five five. “You’re going to help me with my—our daughter!”

“Daughter?” Liam sank into his seat.

“Yes, our daughter. I want you to help me with her.” Raven stepped past the white couches. “Financially.”

“Financially?” He rubbed a hand over blond hair.

“All that education, yet you don’t understand, Liam? I want help with Royael.” His inquisitive face made her lose momentum. Five two again.

“Royal, what? You’re crazier than I remember.”

“Our child’s name is Royael. You wouldn’t know that, though.” She let her fingertips rest on his desk, leaning forward as spirals of hair framed an icy gaze. “I’ve been paying for dance classes, clothes, food, everything! I guess I gotta get crazy with you,” she warned, noticing her words didn’t seem to penetrate.

“That’s how it gotta be?” She took a seat on top of the sleek desk, crossing her legs. She felt five ten and had seen the stance in a movie. Keeping up calm appearances, she pulled back a silver ball from the swinging pendulum, watched it clink back and forth. She breathed through her mouth. His scent already embraced her. Calming. Teasing. Angering. Envying.

He placed a hand on the phone, eyebrow cocked.

“We can go there if you want, Liam. Before you dial security, I should warn that I am great friends with one of the editors of Scandalous magazine.” Voice soft as satin, Raven peered into Liam’s eyes. It was safe, now that she had all his attention. She breathed in the scent of fear. Inside, she was well over six feet and had the upper-hand!

“Hmmm …” Liam laced his hands behind his head and leaned back for a second, taking in that pout of hers. Then his hazel eyes narrowed. “I do not like threats, Raven Shaw.”

“Oh, yeah. Well, I didn’t like your letter saying our baby is a freak of nature. You’re an asshole. You thought I would abort my child because you didn’t want her.” She hopped off the desk, putting her hand on full hips with all of the confidence of a giant. “Royael is the most beautiful, fun, loving, energetic … She’s everything that any father would want in a child. Except for you.”

Raven fed off his guilty-as-sin façade. He no longer had that cocky allure. He had that little-fat-Liam-from-the-seventh-grade look about him. Uncertain, out of control.

“Royael deserves a better life.” Looking around the marble flooring, she remembered leaving her briefcase outside. Instead of losing momentum, she snatched a sticky note off his desk. She scribbled on it, flicking it in his general direction. “Put some money in that account for Royael.”

The name is Nicole but I sort of like to be called Amarie Avant on occasion. Both names in my pseudonym are from R&B singers, it was either that or Emeli (singer Emeli Sande). I am the bestselling author of the erotic-romantic suspense series “FEAR: Falling in Love with an Alpha Billionaire” and “The Good Mistress.” Though I do love the reviews which indicate as much.
I am married with two daughters, and live in Southern California. I received dual bachelor degrees in Psychology and Child Development. Because I liked going to school and really didn’t want to go to work yet, I continued on to grad school and graduated summa cum laude with a Master’s in Counseling from Azusa Pacific University – where God comes first.
I work with a colorful variety of clients as evidenced by the sociopath, yet sexy Victor D’Ross in the FEAR series, and how psychologically effed up Melody is in the story “His Melody.” When I’m not dealing with a client’s crisis or mental breakdown, I like to write about sex, love, murder, and alphas. I think highly of myself when I’m kicking the air’s ass while doing Taebo, I love the beach and deep-discount coupon shopping at Macy’s and Pier 1 Imports. I will beg like TLC for a book review, and I’m so addicted to book covers I might need to be committed. I’ve got three book covers I’m sitting on and still searching for more.

About me:

I am a mom to two boys, wife to an amazing coal miner, lifelong book worm and makeup/nail polish hoarder. I spend my days reading, playing with my three dogs and trying out products for my other blog, Gimme All the Pretty Things

PR Friendly! Do you have a book for review, product or service that you think my readers would enjoy? Feel free to contact me. Ashley - booksandwarpaint82@gmail.com

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